RSPCA NSW supports the timely and necessary review of the Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW) (CAA). In our submission last month, we made 11 recommendations focusing on strengthening companion animal and animal welfare legislation coverage, improving minimum standards for companion animals in pounds and shelters, and removing barriers to responsible pet ownership.
In an important next step for the Review, RSPCA NSW Chief Veterinarian, Dr Liz Arnott and General Counsel, Kathryn Jurd attended the NSW Office of Local Government Consultation Forum today, to participate in analysing key themes of the submissions, consider barriers and opportunities, and shape companion animal legislative reform in NSW.
This is a crucial part of RSPCA NSW’s advocacy to improve animal welfare. It is vital that both POCTAA and the CAA are reviewed in a comprehensive way to ensure the currently aged legislation is amended to bring welfare-oriented companion animal management to the people and animals of NSW.
Our comprehensive submission draws on almost 100 years’ experience enforcing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (NSW) (POCTAA) and nearly three decades of navigating the fragmented framework of the CAA.
“We welcome the opportunity to contribute to this long-overdue review and strongly recommend the NSW Government rewrite and modernise both the CAA and POCTAA as part of an overarching strategy to improve animal welfare,” said RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman.
“These two Acts deal with interconnected issues relating to animal welfare and companion animal management, isolating them and amending them in an ad hoc fashion risks repeating the same mistakes and will only delay better outcomes for animals most in need of protection.”
RSPCA NSW strongly encourages Councils to meet their companion animal management obligations, including stray and lost cats and dogs. However ongoing funding for responsible pet ownership strategies, including microchipping, registration and proactive desexing campaigns is vital in reducing the numbers of stray, injured and unowned animals currently being cared for at veterinary clinics and shelters.
In 2024, more than 6,000 strays came through RSPCA NSW’s doors, nearly half of all animals in our care. In Sydney alone, this costs our organisation more than $2.8 million.
“That is $2.8 million that could have been invested in targeted desexing programs, which has been proven to prevent thousands of animals from ever needing to enter the system in the first place,” said Mr Coleman.
“Councils have an incredible opportunity to meet their statutory obligations and deliver local companion animal management services that their communities can be proud of, allowing us to redirect resources toward long-term, preventative solutions that have the greatest impact.”
The 11 recommendations made by RSPCA NSW are:
- Rewrite the Companion Animals Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, along with their associated regulations. Draft legislation and Codes of Practice should be released with sufficient time for stakeholders to provide meaningful feedback.
- Ensure accountability for councils’ management of stray animals, including cats and dogs, with funding allocated for the care and transfer of injured or unclaimed animals left at shelters or vet clinics.
- Remove barriers to owner compliance in areas such as microchipping, registration, desexing, and access to behavioural or veterinary care.
- Introduce a mandatory animal welfare code for NSW pounds, ensuring consistent and enforceable standards across facilities.
- Introduce a mandatory animal welfare code for NSW shelters and rescue organisations to support high-quality care.
- Fund multi-year, targeted free feline desexing programs supported by longitudinal research to evaluate impact.
- Support ‘semi-owners’ of cats through dedicated education and care programs to prevent unplanned litters and reduce shelter intakes.
- Invest in training and qualifications for council pound staff in canine and feline behaviour and welfare, in line with recommendations from two recent coronial inquests.
- Finalise and adopt the recommendations of the 2022 Rehoming of Companion Animals Draft Report to improve outcomes for animals in care.
- Address the recommendations of the NSW veterinary workforce shortage, particularly strategies to increase access to vet care for council pounds and resourcing to meet desexing programs.
- Regulate the animal behaviour and training industry with an enforceable Code of Practice that sets out the minimum qualification and training standards, and guide practitioner behaviour.
RSPCA NSW has committed considerable effort to providing informed and evidence-based submissions to the Review and will continue to work with stakeholders to advocate for long term and meaningful statutory change. For these reforms to succeed, clear accountability, transparency, and timely implementation are essential. RSPCA NSW looks forward to further opportunities for collaboration to ensure these outcomes are achieved.
“While legislative reform is a crucial piece of this puzzle, these amendments need to be supported by initiatives that motivate behaviour change. This is why removing barriers and promoting responsible pet ownership across the state is vital,” added Mr. Coleman.
Learn more about RSPCA NSW advocacy priorities and policy reform work here.
